Albatross by J. M. Erickson Read Free Book Online

was still unnerving to David, even though he had rehearsed this scene several times. Burns constantly coached him.
    “Be yourself,” Burns would say. “Tell him the truth. It’s easier when you tell the truth. Just don’t give him the answers he wants,” Burns would constantly urge.
    David struggled with what Burns was saying.
    For the moment, David was doing his best to seem at home, but it was difficult. It was not a question of if he could do it. It was an issue of how. How can I do this? How can I convincingly pretend to be someone named Sam Coleridge? How can I keep this charade going for a couple of hours? David thought to himself. David knew intuitively that he was the best person to keep the police occupied as the others moved ahead with their plans. Originally, Samantha had been chosen to play the role of victim, but Burns had reconsidered. David had to admit Burns’s analysis was right: While Samantha could stonewall anyone, she could play more roles than anyone outside of the police station. That was her strength—many things to many people. David’s skills were interviewing and dealing with people and stressful situations. David also had to admit that he was also good at dramatic monologues. So it was with great irony that Burns recommended David initially use the alias of Samuel Coleridge from The Rime of the Ancient Mariner . David believed that Burns’s choice of name and that specific poem had more to do with Burns himself at an unconscious level. David was sure that Burns’s choice was guided by the story’s symbolism of burdens, sins, revelations, truth, metamorphosis, and redemption. That’s definitely more Burns than me, David thought. Still, David followed Burns’s advice and took the alias.
    Suddenly, David was drawn back into the present with Andersen’s next volley of questions.
    “Does your client have a name?” he asked.
    “Former client,” David corrected. It was true—Burns was no longer a client. “His name is Mr. Alexander Burns,” David answered.
    Then David finally understood Burns’s advice about being interrogated. Always give as much of the truth as possible without giving the mission away. I see now. Tell him the truth , David thought.
    “So who is Mr. Burns?” Andersen asked.
    David exhaled as he realized his best course of action. It would be difficult because he would have to reopen old wounds, wounds that he was still trying to heal, but he had to for Becky and Emma, for Samantha and Burns. David thought back to the day it all started with a phone call a life time ago.

    Jenny was in the shower when David Caulfield, Sam Coleridge’s predecessor, took the call at home.
    “Jesus, Michele! Can’t a guy sleep late once in a while?” David snorted out
    “I’m sorry. Did I catch you in your final lap in the pool or on your way to get a donut or something?” Michele quickly shot back.
    “What is it?” David grumbled, still carving sleep out of his eyes.
    “You got a new client from the veterans’ hospital. No major physical issues per se … except for the fact he has internal head injuries and burns on his hands and arms … but seems to have a great deal more mental health issues, primarily paranoia, PTSD, and memory loss. The request comes from the director herself, and the package of information was put together completely by two treating medical doctors and a team from Germany. He came stateside eight weeks ago. Looks like they want you to see him on an outpatient basis as a private patient. Now here is the real strange part—”
    David interrupted, “Huh? Something stranger than actually having medical information on a patient from the hospital with no obvious medical issues keeping him there and the director of the hospital being personally involved? Something stranger than all that?”
    Michele went on, “Stranger yet. The director of the hospital accepted your pay fee without hesitation. And they want him in the intensive program for three